Popular wildlife influencer “The Real Tarzann” said he’s “happy to be alive” after being seriously injured in a skydiving accident.
The social media star — whose real name is Mike Holston — posted a photo of himself lying on a hospital gurney with his right leg wrapped in bandages and wearing a neck brace to his more than 16 million Instagram followers on Saturday following the grueling accident.
“Yesterday I had a skydiving 🪂 accident. I’ll probably be out for a few weeks!” Holston wrote.
“Will make a full update video on what went wrong in my bio! I’m pretty banged up at the moment, in some pretty good pain, but just happy to be alive.”
While his injuries may sideline him from posting content for a bit, the influencer assured fans he’s already eyeing a comeback once he recovers.
“I know a lot of y’all want to see me down, but don’t count on it too long 😎 enjoy while you can!” he added.
With details still unclear about what went wrong, Holston posted a series of Instagram Stories updating fans on how he’s holding up.
“Gettin’ there. Getting better,” he said in one clip when asked about his pain.
“I was f–ked up for like three hours. I couldn’t even breathe. My chest was killing me,” he added.
Responding to concerned fans eager for answers, the daring influencer said only that he made a “small mistake.”
“All is good! If I wasn’t too banged up I’d gear up and go again for another jump,” he wrote.
“Just a small mistake on my end — it’s a part of the sport. Small user error, but nonetheless stoked to get back to it in no time.”
In another post, Holston reassured fans he would be okay.
“What’s up family? Thank God all is well. They didn’t get me off this Earth today,” he said. “Nothing to worry about.”
“Just another rough day in the office. I love you all and hopefully we’ll see you soon.”
Holston, who also boasts more than 1.3 million YouTube followers, is known for his outdoor adventure and wildlife videos.
He previously sparked backlash after posting wild clips from an Australia trip showing him tangling with crocodiles, the BBC reported.
In one video, Holston leapt from a boat and chased a freshwater crocodile through shallow water before tackling it, while another showed him wrestling a young saltwater croc — a stunt that turned bloody when the reptile bit him.
The viral footage drew swift condemnation from conservation groups, including Community Representation of Crocodiles (CROC), which slammed the stunt as “illegal” and “dangerous.”
Bob Irwin — the father of beloved wildlife expert Steve Irwin — also weighed in, blasting Holston’s actions and saying tourists who disrespect Australia’s wildlife should be “booted out the door.”
Irwin further criticized social media for “glorifying” harmful behavior toward wildlife, warning, “These posts can have disastrous consequences for both people and wildlife,” according to the BBC.
Holston later pushed back in the comments section of one video, saying he never encouraged viewers to copy his stunts and that the crocodile was released “after a few up-close looks and photos.”
Read the full article here
